OPPORTUNITIES:

OPPORTUNITIES:

First Night Youngstown Celebration: First Night Youngstown is putting out a call for volunteers interested in helping with our 10th annual downtown Youngstown New Year’s Eve Celebration. The event will be from 6 p.m. to midnight on Dec. 31 in venues around Federal Street and Wick Avenue on the Youngstown State University campus. Volunteers are asked to work a three-hour shift, and in return will receive an admission button to attend the rest of the evening’s events and activities. First Night Youngstown is a family friendly, alcohol-free event that rings in the New Year with a variety of fun entertainment for the entire family. Activities include horse and carriage rides, skating at the Covelli Center, laser light show, circus acts, children’s activities, singers, dancers, and the traditional ball drop and spectacular fireworks extravaganza topping the evening.

A mandatory orientation meeting is scheduled at the First Night Office in the City Centre One Building, 100 Federal Plaza East, Suite 150, (next to the YMCA Building) at 6 p.m. Dec. 16. Past participants are also encouraged to attend. Location preference and those wanting to work together is given on a first-request basis.

For more information on activities, times or locations, check out the First Night Youngstown Web site www.firstnightyoungstown.org or call (330) 744-9966.

Reading Buddies Needed: You can help a second-grader at a local elementary school build a solid foundation for life by volunteering one or two hours a week as a reading partner and mentor. Reading partners work one-on-one in the school to help students learn to be better readers. Training will be provided. For more information, contact Corrie at (330) 782-5877.

Gift sorting and bagging assistance needed: Trumbull County Catholic Charities is in need of holiday help. Christmas gifts are received from sponsors and need to be sorted and bagged according to families for distribution for children in the program. Gifts will be sorted and bagged Monday through Friday in the mornings and afternoons. To help, call Paula, Evelyn or Laney at (330) 393-4254.

Art Outreach Gallery 4th Annual Holiday Show and Sale: Volunteers are needed at the event at the Art Outreach Gallery in the Eastwood Mall through Jan. 3. Volunteers are needed to gallery sit for a four-hour shift during gallery hours on Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 1 to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 1to 5 p.m. If you want to know more, contact Gail at aaboutique@aol.com.

Holiday Fun Night at the Girard Multigenerational Center: Volunteers are needed to assist with the fun and activities that are provided for the free holiday fun night from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 16. There will be crafts, face painting and an indoor snowball fight. Last year, about 200 children attended the event, so volunteers are needed to ensure every child gets to participate in all of the activities. For more information or to volunteer, contact Kristen Gallagher at (330) 393-4254.

Bell ringers: Support the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign and help ring in the holidays. The Red Kettle Campaign runs through Dec. 24 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Sundays. Volunteers are needed to take two- to four-hour shifts at various local businesses. Contact Capt. Charles Foster, Mahoning County Area Coordinator, or Sarah Cordero, Kettle Coordinator, at (330) 270-5999.

Therapeutic recreation volunteers: Volunteers are wanted to assist the recreation staff at Forum Health Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital with patient activities. As a group program aide, you will go from room to room to encourage participation in the evening activity and help transport patients to the recreation room. This is an opportunity for someone available two to four evenings a month between 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, contact Kristen Gallagher at (330) 393-4254.

After-school tutors: If you have a few hours available during the afternoon and would like the opportunity to help a young person improve math and reading skills, contact Kim Travis at Neighborhood Ministries at (330) 744-1446 or kim_travis @ohionm.org.

Volunteer tax preparers: Consider volunteering as a tax preparer. Receive all the necessary training and certification from the IRS and then help provide a much-needed service to families and seniors in the Mahoning Valley. VITA volunteers provide free tax return preparation to eligible taxpayers, low- to moderate-income families and senior citizens. Last year, volunteers were responsible for bringing $2.6 million back to families in need in the Valley. Certified instructors will provide you with all the materials needed, as well as teach you about tax preparation, tax law and the software used to prepare taxes. Volunteers are also needed to serve as greeters at several sites around the community, and individuals who are fluent in Spanish are needed to serve as interpreters. For more information, or to reserve a space for trainings or orientation, call (330) 782-5877.